In-laws clash over foetus

Nhlalwenhle Ncube
DARING in-laws from Matshetsheni area in Gwanda, Matabeleland South, stunned villagers when they publicly demanded exhumation of a foetus which was buried in their absence.

The family ordered their son-in-law and his mother to dig up the grave so they could see if indeed they had buried the foetus and not feasted on it.

Butho Dube and his mother Elizabeth Dube were left with no choice but to prove their innocence by exhuming the foetus.

There was reportedly drama as Buthoa��s mother-in-law Edna Khumalo accused the Dube family of bewitching her daughter Ntombenhle so they could get a�?meata�?.

Dube confirmed the reports.

a�?I was shocked when I was summoned before village head Nichole Khumalo. When I got there I found my in-laws already at the village heada��s place and they quizzed me about what had happened.

a�?My daughter-in-law was three months pregnant when she started complaining of stomach pains and while I was busy attending to her, she told me that there was something coming out of her privates.

a�?I was really shocked, but she told me not to worry and took a pair of scissors which she used to cut the umbilical cord.

a�?She wrapped the foetus and instructed me to go and bury it and I never gave it a second thought and took her word,a�? he said.

Dube said after the incident, the daughter-in-lawa��s health condition deteriorated and they rushed her to Gwanda hospital where she was treated and discharged.

a�?I do not know why MaKhumalo suspects we bewitched her daughter and she came to our homestead and ordered me and Butho to dig up the foetus.

a�?After showing her the remains, she started screaming saying we had tampered with it and vowed that the whole family would die,a�? said Dube.

The village head instructed the Dube and Khumalo families to solve their differences amicably.

a�?The foetus was re-buried and as we speak my daughter-in-law was taken to a traditional healer where she is being treated and we agreed that Butho will pay for all the expenses.a�?

When Khumalo was contacted for comment, she also confirmed the reports.

a�?I did not understand what had happened and was wondering why that woman had buried it alone. Anyway we have solved the problem.a�?